Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,282 per month in Lugano vs $1,247 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,357 per month in Lugano vs $2,025 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,432 per month in Lugano vs $2,803 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Lugano costs about 163% more than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lugano sits 140% above the global median, while Tbilisi is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.22 CHF 28.25

$11.33 ₾29.45

202.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$179 CHF 148

$38.71 ₾101

363.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.55 CHF 16.96

$9.52 ₾24.73

115.86%

Cappuccino

$4.60 CHF 3.80

$3.41 ₾8.85

34.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 CHF 4.21

$1.04 ₾2.71

391.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 CHF 3.24

$0.64 ₾1.66

512.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.94 CHF 8.20

$2.61 ₾6.79

280.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.54 CHF 6.22

$3.24 ₾8.43

132.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.85

$2.17 ₾5.65

3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 CHF 2.97

$0.74 ₾1.92

386.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 CHF 3.50

$1.71 ₾4.45

147.95%

Eggs

$7.11 CHF 5.87

$2.83 ₾7.36

151.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.15 CHF 21.58

$9.22 ₾23.95

183.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.55 CHF 24.39

$6.76 ₾17.55

337.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.25 CHF 33.22

$12.77 ₾33.17

215.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 CHF 2.73

$1.64 ₾4.26

101.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 CHF 1.42

$1.77 ₾4.60

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 CHF 2.15

$1.87 ₾4.85

39.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.94 CHF 4.90

$2.44 ₾6.34

143.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 CHF 1.50

$0.87 ₾2.25

109.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 CHF 1.75

$0.65 ₾1.70

226.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 CHF 1.99

$1.40 ₾3.64

72.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CHF 0.92

$0.74 ₾1.93

51.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.92 CHF 9.01

$3.41 ₾8.86

220.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.42 CHF 10.25

$7.60 ₾19.75

63.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 CHF 2.34

$1.70 ₾4.41

66.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 CHF 3.34

$2.38 ₾6.20

70.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.16 CHF 2.60

$0.36 ₾0.94

777.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 CHF 65.3

$15.24 ₾39.60

419.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.43 CHF 6.14

$1.18 ₾3.07

529.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.69 CHF 4.70

$0.76 ₾1.97

648.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$78.3 CHF 64.6

$11.34 ₾29.47

590.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.87

$1.33 ₾3.46

70.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K CHF 28.8K

$24.7K ₾64.2K

41.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.8K CHF 32.9K

$22.0K ₾57.2K

80.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$289 CHF 239

$88.9 ₾231

225.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.02 CHF 18.17

$13.33 ₾34.63

65.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.42 CHF 40.79

$20.12 ₾52.3

145.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.2 CHF 78.6

$68.7 ₾178

38.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.36 CHF 30.83

$18.09 ₾47.01

106.52%

Cinema Ticket

$20.23 CHF 16.70

$6.72 ₾17.46

201.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,230 CHF 1,015

$374 ₾971

229.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K CHF 28.5K

$10.7K ₾27.8K

222.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$165 CHF 136

$101 ₾263

62.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 CHF 46.96

$39.33 ₾102

44.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$199 CHF 164

$118 ₾305

69.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 CHF 123

$122 ₾318

21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,704 CHF 1,407

$682 ₾1,773

149.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 CHF 1,088

$456 ₾1,186

188.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,493 CHF 2,883

$1,303 ₾3,385

168.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,614 CHF 2,157

$899 ₾2,337

190.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.7K CHF 14.6K

$2,449 ₾6,365

620.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.3K CHF 9,299

$1,452 ₾3,774

675.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,941 CHF 5,729

$652 ₾1,695

964.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.37

12.62

-81.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lugano: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,704 in Lugano versus $682 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 964% higher in Lugano, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $179 in Lugano versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $598 vs $232 – making Tbilisi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Lugano vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lugano costs about 163% more than Tbilisi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,922 per month in Lugano and $1,870 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tbilisi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,282 in Lugano and $1,247 in Tbilisi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 419% less in Tbilisi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tbilisi, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Lugano at $3,282. In Tbilisi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lugano it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tbilisi costs $1,247 versus $3,282 in Lugano. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tbilisi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lugano makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.